While studying both gut microbiota samples, genome-wide association studies, and pedigree and health data from 107,651 full sibling pairs born between 1910 and 2010, the study disentangles the relationship between Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis and a broad spectrum of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

Clinical and epidemiological studies indicate a higher prevalence of IMIDs among patients with IBD and their first-degree relatives, suggesting shared genetic and/or environmental risk factors. However, though often co-studied, our study reveals that Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis harbor distinct genealogical, genetic, and microbial associations with other IMIDs.

Our findings reinforce the need for subtype-specific approaches in research design. Furthermore, it suggests a multidisciplinary strategy to the clinical management of IBD patients with immune-mediated comorbidities that account for the broader immune landscape rather than focus on each diagnosis in isolation.

See all disease profiles and their correlations across IBD and IMIDs via the link below.

The study includes Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, and the following IMIDs:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Asthma
• Celiac disease
• Graves’ disease
• Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism
• Iridocyclitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myasthenia gravis
• Neuromyelitis Optica
• Primary biliary cholangitis
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Type 1 diabetes

Authors

Marie Vibeke Vestergaard
Alonzo Alfaro-Núñez
Aleksejs Sazonovs
Georgios Athanasiadis
Tine Jess